I’d snuck into Tiffany’s women empowerment class and was watching her in awe. She was so confident in her words. She answered every question with a great answer. More women had shown up to this class and they were all listening to her. Some were taking notes. They were living for everything she had to say. She was a role model to these women.

I couldn’t stop thinking about how far she had come in such a short amount of time. It seemed like just yesterday that I was trying to pry answers out of her over lunch. I wasn’t sure what had changed, but I liked it.

I kept thinking about last night and how she took control of the situation. It was such a turn-on. I loved watching her ride my cock. She was an absolutely beautiful sight to look up to as I came. Plus, showing up in that Santa Girl outfit was extremely hot. The night was unexpectedly perfect.

I thought about after sex, too. I finally opened up to her about Layla. I’d wanted to talk to her about Layla for a while, but I was scared. I wasn’t sure of what her reaction would be. To be honest, I wasn’t sure of my reaction. I thought we both did well, though. I was sure there would be more questions on Layla in the future. I would answer them honestly. I think she understood that I would always hold a place in my heart for Layla. It didn’t mean I would love Tiffany any less, though.

Despite her apology, I was still confused about our fight. She said she was stressed, but it still seemed like something more to me. I couldn’t figure out how she was fine before she left to get the olive oil and then returned in a bad mood. Maybe she had gotten a text from her mother or a work email that stressed her out? I would probably never know the answer, so I should probably stop thinking about it.

The room began to clap. Tiffany’s class was over for the day. Some of the women stood and walked toward her. Some still had questions. Others were eager to bounce ideas off Tiffany. I quietly snuck out the back door, not wanting anyone to notice that I’d stayed for nearly all of the class. As I walked out, I bumped into Tim.

“How did it go in there?” Tim asked. I was sure that he knew about me and Tiffany, but I was glad that he didn’t really talk about it. I know that he said he didn’t have a problem with it, but I knew that if we got caught, we would be in really big trouble with Robin.

“It was great,” I responded. “You came up with a great idea. I think the women are really learning a lot from Tiffany. You’ll see the morale boost in this office in no time.”

Tim smiled, obviously pleased with himself.

“Good,” he said. “Are we still on for our ten o’clock meeting?”

I nodded.

“We are,” I said. “I have a couple of things to wrap up, but I’ll be there.”

We said our goodbyes and walked in opposite directions. I walked back to my office to check my email before I ran my errand. Thankfully, there was nothing important. I wanted to sneak out of the office before Tiffany saw me.

As I grabbed my wallet from my desk, Tiffany appeared in my doorway.

“Hey,” she greeted me. She was absolutely glowing. I would have liked to attribute it to the sex last night, but I knew she was on a high from public speaking.

“Great job in there,” I said, sliding my wallet into my pocket.

“Are you leaving?” she asked. Busted. I didn’t want her to know that I was leaving the office, and I really didn’t want her to know where I was going.

“I just have to run an errand,” I said. “Nothing exciting.”

She nodded.

“I have to get to work on my first assignment,” she said. “Tim gave me this fun, heartwarming holiday story to do. I’m working on some of it today and interviewing my subject tomorrow.”

“That sounds great,” I said. “If you need any help, you know where to find me.”

“Thanks,” she said. She headed to her office and I left mine.

I walked out of the office and checked behind me. She didn’t follow me. I didn’t think she would have, but it was important that she didn’t see where I was going. I was heading to the jewelry store down the street. I wanted to get her something for Christmas.

“Good morning, sir,” the store clerk greeted me as I walked in.

“Good morning,” I returned the greeting. I wasn’t sure what I was looking for, but I figured that I would know it when I saw it. I thought about earrings, but nothing really jumped out at me.

“Where are your necklaces?” I asked.

“Over here, sir,” the store clerk pointed to a glass case near the corner. I walked over and was surprised to see a wide variety of necklaces. As I bent down to look at them, the bell on the door dinged. Another man walked in, but he looked very out of place.

He was glistening with sweat and his cheeks were flushed. Based on his attire, I concluded that he had just gotten done working out at the gym. He was a big guy with huge arms. Most guys don’t intimidate me, but this one did. The gruff look on his face did him no favors, either.

“Good morning, sir,” the store clerk greeted him. Mr. Muscles looked at the store clerk but did not return the greeting. He began to look around the store aimlessly. I ignored him and went back to looking at the necklaces.

“I need something good for my girl,” Mr. Muscles spoke. His voice was as rough as his looks.

“What does she like, sir?” the store clerk asked. “We have many unique items available. We have rings, earrings, tennis bracelets…”

Mr. Muscles laughed.

“Nothing to do with tennis,” he said. “She doesn’t work out. Can you believe it? A guy like me trying to win back a girl who doesn’t work out? I know. You probably think it’s crazy. So do I. But, my other girlfriend broke up with me and I realized that my ex may have some flaws, but she’ll be easy to get back. It will be even easier once I find the right piece of jewelry.”

“Hmm, if you could tell me a bit about her, I may be able to recommend something,” the store clerk said. I admired him for being so polite when this guy was obviously a jerk.

“She’s pretty thick,” Mr. Muscles said. “She likes food and TV. She likes wine. I guess that’s about it. She doesn’t really have any hobbies. I thought a nice piece of jewelry might make her look better. Take the focus off her body, you know what I mean? Sometimes I wonder why I’m trying to win her back. Maybe I need to find a skinnier girl. Decisions, decisions.”

Mr. Muscles laughed at himself. He walked toward me, making me feel uneasy. He sounded cocky. I didn’t like the way that he talked about women, as if they were pawns in his game of life. I didn’t want to make eye contact, so I continued to look at the necklaces. I hoped that he would stay away from that section.

“We have some fantastic necklaces,” the store clerk offered. Fuck. I didn’t want Mr. Muscles near me. Being in the same store as him was bad enough. Mr. Muscles sauntered over to the case where I was looking at the necklaces. He stopped walking and stood right next to me. I could smell his musky after-gym scent.

“Sir, can I please look at that necklace?” I asked the store clerk. I’d found a gorgeous necklace for Tiffany, unlike any of the others. It was a long silver necklace with three differently sized circles. Each circle had a different color gem inside. I could see her wearing it every day. She would love it.

The store clerk unlocked the case and presented the necklace in front of me. It dazzled under the lights. I’d to have it.

“I want that,” Mr. Muscles spoke. I turned my head to look at him. Sure enough, he was pointing at the necklace that I wanted.

“I’m sorry, sir, but this is the only necklace like this that we have,” the store clerk said. Mr. Muscles ignored him and grabbed his wallet from his back pocket.

“I’ll take it,” he said.

“Excuse me?” I asked him. “I’m looking at this necklace.”

Mr. Muscles scoffed at me. He didn’t look like he gave a shit what me or the store clerk had to say. I’d a feeling that he was used to getting what he wanted in life.

“Ring me up now,” Mr. Muscles instructed the store clerk. Both the store clerk and I looked at him. We could not believe how this man was acting. He was a child in a man’s body.

“Sir,” the store clerk said, “this gentleman is looking at the necklace. If he passes on it, I will gladly ring this up for you.”

Mr. Muscles raised his hands in the air and groaned.

“Listen, I am opening a gym right down the street. I’ll have a lot of clients there and they’ll probably ask me for recommendations. If you let me have the necklace, I’ll recommend your shop. If you give it to this scrawny dude, I’ll make sure no one sets foot in here again.”

I was shocked. Did this stranger just call me a scrawny dude and threaten to talk shit about the store? Who was this guy?

Mr. Muscles grabbed the necklace from in front of me and thrust it in front of the store clerk.

“Ring me up,” he said.

The store clerk looked at me and I rolled my eyes. Although it was a beautiful necklace, the perfect necklace, it wasn’t worth the fight. I would find something else before Christmas. Karma was real. The bastard would get his own somewhere… I just hoped I was there to see it.

“Hey, fucktard. Maybe you should have some manners,” I told Mr. Muscles.

“Like guys like you do? Does the get you the girl?” He grinned at me, like he knew he had won.

“Actually, yes.” I moved closer to him.

The clerk cleared his throat. “Hey guys. Let’s not do this here, please? I have another set of necklaces that I think you would both love. It’s the holidays, hm?”

My body tensed, ready for a fight, but the clerk was right. Was the necklace really worth it? Tiffany would look incredible in anything I bought her. Bastard.

“Fine. I’ll check back in later.” I glanced at the clerk and nodded. “Good luck with keeping your woman, asshole. Guys like you get real old after a little while.” I flipped the guy off and walked out. Fucker. That bastard wasn’t capable of loving anyone but himself.

My mood finally chilled a little as I started to think about Christmas more. I’d a stocking up for myself and Austin, but I needed one with Tiffany. There was room for one more on the mantle, and hopefully it would help to show her in every way possible that she was the girl for me.

Then again, maybe it was kind of early for something like that. Although Tiffany had apologized, she was right when she brought up the fact that we had only been on a few dates. For someone who had a broken past, I sure wasn’t pumping the brakes on this relationship. Maybe I would hold off on the stocking.

Who was being the asshole now?

Right. Me.